Electrical connector



March 24, 1942. 511 155 I 2,277,326

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. so, 1939 s Sheets-Shet 1 JO I v v 8 i2 13 13 I J Inventor F [E DUANE E. HUSS,

A tiorneys March 24, 1942. f H I 2,277,326

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor DUANE E. Huss,

A itomeys I March 24, 1942. D, ugs 2,277,326

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1959 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (I! Z7. 34 i t ca L A? 60 33 F 15- Inventor DUANE E. E1055,

E 15. By g.

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 Application September 30, 1939, Serial No. 297,382

10 Claims: (01. 173-355) My invention relates to improvements in electrical connectors involving a plug and receptacle arrangement, whereby means is provided to achieve quicker and easier electrical connection of electrical cords, lights, and other appliances,

special provision being made to effect a tighter and more efiicient connection of the plug and receptacle, the resulting connection being characterized by greater safety and simplicity than is afforded by present types of screw socket and prong connectors.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration Figure 13 is a view taken along the line l3l3 of Figure 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a view taken through Figure 10 along the line 14- andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the receptacle.

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but having a portion of the upper part thereof broken away to disclose the electrical terminals and the association of the cap with the receptacle.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2 approximately on the line 4-4 and looking toward the right in the direction of the arrows, and with the cap of the receptacle removed and showing the plug inserted in a receptacle to connect the plug and receptacle electrically and structurally.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line v 5--5 and looking toward the left in the direction of the arrows and showing in elevation the inner face of one of the receptacle sections and the associated switch mechanism, and with the cap of the receptacle removed.

I Figure 6 is a top plan view of the receptacle body.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of an appliance, in this case, an electrical bulb, incorporating the plug member of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary and enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through the upper part of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a modifled form.

Figure 11 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 with the cap in section.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of Figure 3 with the cap removed.

Figure 16 is ahorizontal sectional view taken through Figure 10 along the line Iii-l6 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and first to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 9, the numeral 5 generally designates the receptacle member, and the numeral 6 the plug member of the present electrical connector, the plug member having associated therewith any suitable electrical appliance such as the electrical bulb 1 shown for illustrative purposes therein. v

- The receptacle 5 comprises a generally cylindrical, axially elongated body which is longitudinally divided on a diameter thereof into two semicylindrical sections 8 and 9, respectively, which are connected in facing relation by suitable means such as bolts l0 and II, respectively, passing chordally through the sections on opposite sides I of the axis of the body of the receptacle and with the opposite ends of the bolts recessed as indicated in the drawings.

The said sections have semi-annuli'lf, 13, respectively, which cooperate to provide a rounded ridge encircling the receptacle body adjacent one end thereof and shaped according to the use to which the receptacle is to be put. From the opposite end of the plug project two segmental blocks l4, l5, respectively, whose radially outward sides are spaced from the sides of the receptacle body and threaded to receive the internal threads IS on the protective insulating material cap ll which has in its otherwise closed end an opening l8 to pass the conduit l5 containing the respective conductors 20 and 2| which are fastened by the clamping screws 22, 23, respectively. These screws also clamp to respective side faces of the blocks I4 and 15 the vertical portions 24, 25, on the corresponding ends of the conductive metal strips and 21, respectively.

The conductive strip 26 is in two sections, the upper section carrying the portion 24. as illustrated in Figure 4. This upper portion has a part 28 turned at right angles to the portion 24 and terminating in a laterally extending transversely convexed portion 29. The adjacent part of the section 8 of the body of the receptacle is cut away as shown to accommodate the part 23 and the part 29 extends into a vertically elongated generally rectangular chamber 30 of which a half extends in each of the meeting faces of the sections 8 and 9. The lower portion of the strip 26 comprises an inverted i'oot 3| similar to the foot 23 and vertically spaced therebelow this foot 3| terminates in a shank 32 which terminates ina radial opening 33" in the inner face of the section 8 and is provided with a radially inwardly projecting V-shaped portion 34. The opening 33 has communication with the vertical cylindrical axial opening 35 which, as seen in Figure 4, reaches from a point spaced below the lower end of the opening 30 and opens through the lower end of the plug body, each of the sections 3 and 9 providing its semi-cylindrical half of this opening. A lateral opening 36 similar to the opening 33 but vertically spaced therebelow is formed in the section 9 in a diametrically opposed position and in this is located the V-shaped portion 3|.on the lower end of the shank 38 of the contact strip 21, which shank terminates at its upper end in the portion 25 already referred to, the section 9 having the necessary-passage communicating with the opening 36 to accommodate the shank 38.

In a position approximately at 90 degrees from the plane which passes through the openings 33 and 36, there is an irregular bore in the upper part of the body of the receptacle which comprises the respective portions 43 and 4| at opposite sides of the body which have reduced portions 42 and 43 at their inner ends which open into the opposite sides of the chamber 30. In this irregular bore works the dual push button which is generally designated 46 and which is in the form of a cylindrical rod provided at points spaced from adjacent ends thereof with flxedcollars 41 and 43, respectively, which act as stops whenever they engage the shoulders defined by the inner ends of the boreportions 4|) and 4| and the reduced bore portions 42 and 43.

A conductive sleeve 43 is mounted flush on the push button and extends between the non-conductive annuli 43 and the annulus 56 being located to-engage either end of the chamber 30, in operative positions of the push button with respect to the conductive feet 29 and 3|. It is obvious from Figure 5 of the drawings that when the push button 46 is pressed in a left hand direction from the-position shown in Figure 5 that the annulus 50 will engage and cam the feet 23 and 3| apart and snap past them and allow them to make a strong and frictional electrical engagement with thesleeve 43 and thereby bridge the feet for closing the circuit through the conductive strip 26. In this action the non-conductive annulus 56 engages the left hand end of the chamber 30, and the parts stay in this position until the button is pushed in a right hand direction, and restored to the "011 position shown in Figure 5-, in which the annulus 53 engages the right hand wall of the chamber 30, and the feet 23 and 3| engage the non-conductive portion of the push button.

The plug member 6 of the present connector comprises a relatively small rod 55 which on one end has a beveled collar 56 surmounted by a ball 51 with these formations defining a groove 56 therebetween for reception of the apex portion of the member 34 of the contact strip 26 of the receptacle member when the plug is connected with the receptacle member in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. One side of the collar 56 rests against a dielectric washer 59 which the rod 55 traverses and the washer 59 rests on the adjacent end of the conductive sleeve or tube 60, the rod 55 being insulated from the sleeve 60 by an insulating material bushing 6| residing in the bore of the tube 6|]. The outside of the tube 60 is provided with a rounded peripheral groove 62 for reception of the apex of the V-shaped portion 3'! of the receptacle spring contact 21 in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings when the plug is connected to the receptacle. The rod 55 passes beyond the end of the tube 60 and through a dielectric washer 63 where it is riveted or otherwise formed with retaining means which also act to connect a conductor 65. A conductive washer 66 is interposed between the washer 63 and the adjacent end of the conductive tube 60 and to the washer 66 is connected at 61 another conductor 68 whereby electrical contact is made with the conductive sleeve 60 which is insulated throughout from the. rod 55 and its conductor 65 It will be observed that while the ball 51 provides an excellent centering device for entering the plug into the receptacle, whereby the entry is facilitated as well as the withdrawal of the plug, the head and collar 56 also cooperate in such a way with the portion 34 of the receptacle conductor 26 that the plug is firmly gripped in place in the receptacle and there is formed an excellent and clean electrical connection. Further, the engagement of the receptacle contact member 31 in the 'groove 62 in the side of the plug provides additional holding and retaining means for the plug, so that it will be understood that the connector has two positively acting means for maintaining structurally and electrically the connection between the plug and the receptacle in a safer and tighter manner than is possible or feasible with any screw type and blade type connectors presently available.

The plug 6 is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 as mounted in connection with an electric bulb ill by being secured at the center of a pan-shaped dielectric material member 1| and extending thereinto and being sealed in place by dielectric material 12 having a recess I3 at the center thereof exposing the wires 65 and 68 which lead from the already designated portions of the plug, through the hollow pedestal 12 of the bulb 10 which carries the bulb filament 74, the member 1| being cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the base portion of the glass globe. A bulb constructed as described can be connected and disconnected from a cord plug, receptacle, or lamp structure much more easily and quickly and safely than is possible with the present devices already alluded to herein.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limit the application of my invention thereto except as may be required by the scope of the sub- Joined claims.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 10 through 16, the parts corresponding to those of the first described embodiment are designated by the same numerals accompanied by the letter a. In this embodiment the sections 8a and 9a are divided on a line approximately removed from their division line in the first described embodiment. By thus dividing the plug body the necessity for moulding of the various conductive elements in the body is eliminated, and the faces of the' sections instead I tacle and a plug member, said receptacle comprising a body formed or a pair of side by side sections, means securing the sections together, the meeting faces of said sections being formed with registered depressions together defining a bore opening through one end of said body for reception of said plug member and a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending pockets, said pockets being oppositely laterally outwardly offset, channels extending in said sections from one end of said body into the respective pockets, said channels having major portions thereof arranged substantially parallel to said bore, first and second contact members having major portions thereof conformably fitting said channels and minor portions located in said pockets, said minor portions being laterally inwardly deflected to constitute terminals projecting into said bore for engagement in longitudinally spaced grooves formed in said plug member, the said major portion of one of said contact members comprising tw spaced part having laterally inwardly projecting .extensions, the meeting faces of said sections being formed with registering recesses defining a chamber extending transversely through opposite sides of the receptacle body, a push bar mountedfor longitudinal movement through said chamber, said push bar having a conductive part arranged to be carried into and out of bridging relation to said extensions by shifting of said push barin opposite directions across said receptacle body.

2. An electrical connector comprising a recepta'cle and a plug member, said receptacle comprising a body formed of a pair of side by side sections, means securing the sections together, the meeting faces of said sections being formed with registered depressions together defining a bore opening through one end of said body for reception of said plug member, said depressions being formed with longitudinally spaced laterally extending pockets, said pockets being oppositely laterally outwardly offset, channels extending in said sections from one end of said body into the respectiv pockets, said channels having major portions thereof arranged substantially parallel to said bore, first and second contact members having major portions thereof snugly fitting said channels and minor portions laterally inwardly deflected to constitute terminals situated in said pockets and projecting into said .bore for engagement with longitudinally spaced points on said plug member, one end of said sections being formed with longitudinally projecting dielectric extensions located at diametrically opposite sides of the end of said receptacle body, the ends of said first and second contact members opposite said terminals being extended through the end of the sections and secured to lie along sides of said dielectric extensions.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 2 wherein said dielectric extensions are substantially segmental in cross section and a cap telescoped over both of said extensions.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim .2 wherein said dielectric extensions are substantially segmental in cross section and a cap telescoped over both of said extensions, the curved radially outward sides of said extensions being threaded to engage with threads on the inte-rior of said cap.

5. An electrical connector consisting of a re- I ceptacle body and a plug, said receptaclebody consisting of a pairof longitudinally separable sections, means securing said sections together, the meeting faces of said sections -being formed with matching longitudinal semi-cylindrical depressions constituting a plug receiving bore opening through one end of said body, said meeting faces further being formed with matching pairs of longitudinally spaced pockets leading from opposite sides of said depressions constituting pockets opening from opposite sides of said bore, said meeting faces further being formed with first and second pairs of matching longitudinal channels on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to said bore, said channels extending from one end of said body and terminating" in the corresponding pockets, and first and second contact elements, said contact elements consist ing of longitudinal conductors having major portions shaped to lie snugly and conformably in the corresponding channels and minor portions positioned in the corresponding pockets, said major portions having terminals extending through the 6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 whereinsaid contact elements lie removably in the matching channels.

'7. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein the last-mentioned end of said body comprises a pair of laterally spaced dielectric lugs formed on the corresponding sections, said lugs presenting oppositely facing sides to which terminals are secured. 1

8. In an electrical connector comprising a receptacle body, a pair of laterally spaced contact element terminals projectingv from one end of said body, a pair of substantially triangular dielectric lugs projecting from said one end of the body, said triangular lugs being laterally displaced with respect to each other with one corner of each lug substantially touching a corner of the remaining lug so as to define V-shaped compartments at opposite sides of the lugs, said terminals lying along opposite sides of the corresponding lugs, and wire connecting means passing through said terminals into said lugs and said connecting means being shielded by the facing sides of said compartments.

9. In an electrical connector comprising a receptacle body, a pair of laterally spaced contact element terminals projecting from one end of said body, a pair of substantially triangular dielectric lugs projecting from said one end of the body, said triangular lugs being laterally displaced with respect to each other with one corner of each lug substantially touching a corner of the remaining lug so as to define V-shaped sponding lugs, and wire connecting means pass-.

ing through said terminals into said lugs and said 5 wherein one of said contact elements is discontinuous to define a pair 01' contacts, and movable contactor means mounted in an opening formed in said body for bridging and unbridging 6 said contacts.

DUANE EDWARD HUSS. 

